#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1852-11-16

Hello darlings! Welcome back to another edition of #TutuTuesday on www.pink-tutu.com! Today is a very special day. You see, today's #BalletTutuHistory adventure whisks us back to a time where fashion was truly captivating. Yes, we're going back to November 16th, 1852! (Now I’ve got ‘The Night Before Christmas’ stuck in my head, don't I? 😂)

It's my blog post number 1090 and this week we’re talking a little French, as I’ve been making a quick trip to Paris (by train, of course!). Did you know the trains over here are positively divine?! So chic! But back to our lovely tutus! Oh, they're quite the spectacle, if I do say so myself! 💖

You know, fashion is a whirlwind, a dance if you will, always changing with the times. This week I've decided to explore the fashion of a glorious Parisian theatre back in 1852! 🩰

Now, I must admit I couldn’t find any record of a show actually happening in Paris that day! I did look around in my history books, you see, I love researching so I don’t make any little mistake. But it didn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things! I love the theatricality of Paris and my mind had a delightful adventure.

So I let my imagination go! Oh! Do imagine this:

The year is 1852. A thick, velvet curtain, rich in colours and patterns, conceals a spectacle beyond compare. The Grand Opera of Paris is set for a captivating performance and the atmosphere buzzes with anticipation! You know, darling, you could almost touch the excitement in the air.

A symphony of twinkling gaslights casts a golden glow on the faces of the fashionable crowd as they flutter their fans and settle into their plush seats. They’re in their best crinoline gowns with lavish fabric and the very latest fashions. You know I am all for crinoline, just not quite so large, thank you very much!

Now, whilst the audience adjusts their opera glasses, my eyes immediately focus on the ballerinas, those goddesses of grace who will grace the stage in just a moment! I imagined them backstage, prepping, with their bodices, flowing skirts, and pointe shoes. Those pointe shoes are a wonder to me, though a little painful to wear! Oh, the dedication it must take to master those graceful movements and ballets! My own **tutu dreams are quite tame in comparison! But no less grand, darling! We must remember: every tutu-wearing girl has dreams! ✨

Okay, darlings! So what kind of tutus did the lovely ladies in those Parisian theatre companies wear, you might ask?! Well, the ballerinas would wear their tutus, just like they wear them today. But in this time period they were more often worn as part of the romantic ballet, oh! How captivating! Romantic ballets were full of romance and passionate story-telling, as well as a touch of drama. Now wouldn’t that make for a great evening at the theatre! 💕

Imagine delicate wispy layers of fabric, so light and dreamy. Imagine them floating on stage, making those fabulous ballerina spins! This Romantic style tutu was created around 1830 and took its influence from a famous, and extremely elegant, dancer named Marie Taglioni, and she was a favourite of mine - much more than a certain Miss Fanny Cerrito (though we wouldn't be caught dead gossiping about her).

The tutus were lighter, and a whole lot more fluffy (dare I say a little less restrictive!), allowing the ballerina to be even more captivating! All for those enchanting dance movements and graceful spins. The audience was mesmerised. Just like I’m always mesmerized, darling! They are absolutely exquisite, don't you think?! I think the ladies must have flown across the stage! We should all embrace the art of “flying”!

But it wasn’t only about how the Romantic ballet looked, the graceful dance forms they made popular are part of what we do and see in our ballets today, darling. So, I’m all about it! 🩰

I hope you enjoyed your quick little history of the French Theatre and Ballet in 1852 with me! Until next Tuesday darling, don’t forget to #rockthatpinktutu!

See you next week!

Lots of love,

Emma 💖